Pivoted athletic glove

ABSTRACT

An improved athletic glove which promotes greater accuracy when swinging a golf club or baseball bat by reducing the effective contact area between the athlete&#39;s palm and the grip of the club or bat, thereby creating a pivot point which extends the effective swing length for more effective transfer of power to either a golf ball or baseball, the effective contact area of which is reduced by means of a circular pad attached to the palm of the athletic glove at one of two optimum locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an athletic glove. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved athletic glove which promotes greater accuracy when swinging a golf club or baseball bat by reducing the effective contact area between the athlete's palm and the grip of the club or bat. This extends the effective swing length for more effective transfer of power to either a golf ball or baseball.

As generally understood among players of golf and baseball, swing accuracy is determined by a player's grip on a golf club or baseball bat. Almost all players wear a glove on their weaker hand when gripping such equipment. Athletic gloves available on the market are typically comprised of a material of consistent thickness throughout the glove. Some gloves provide a certain amount of padding in the palm area to protect the hand from irritation and blistering from repeatedly using a club or bat during play. However, the fact remains that the effective contact area between the player's hand and the club or bat is significant.

Various prior art provide athletic gloves with the intent of improving an athlete's grip and/or swing accuracy.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,188 to Lee discloses a golf glove which promotes club swing accuracy by stabilizing the posture of a golfer's hand and wrist from address to club swing while providing flexibility in the hand's sidewise movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,898 to Pinkart discloses a system and apparatus designed especially for golfers with weakened hand strength to attain a grip with sufficient strength to control the golf club.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,004 discloses a golf glove and system useful in assisting a person having insufficient control of one or more of their hands to use a golf club to effectively strike a golf ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,259 to Matechen discloses a vibration dissipating sports glove for use in holding a bat while hitting a baseball having an energy-absorbing front pad between the index finger and the thumb.

While providing varying methods of assisting athletes with grip and accuracy, the prior art does not address the issues associated with the contact area between a player's palm and the grip of a golf club or baseball bat. There is therefore a need to provide an athletic glove which provides a significantly reduced area of contact between a player's palm and such a grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an athletic glove which promotes greater accuracy when swinging a golf club or baseball bat.

Another object is to extend the effective swing length for more effective transfer of power to either a golf ball or baseball.

To achieve the above-described objects, the athletic glove according to the present invention comprises a circular felt pad located on the palm area just below the index finger. In a preferred embodiment, the felt pad is between one centimeter and four centimeters in diameter, with an optimal diameter of two centimeters. In another preferred embodiment, the circular felt pad is located on the palm area just below the middle finger.

The felt pad effectively reduces the area of contact between a player's palm and the grip of a golf club or baseball bat. This results in a reduced amount of friction between the palm and grip as a player swings at a ball. The felt pad also provides a point from which the club or bat may pivot, thereby increasing accuracy and extending swing length, resulting in a more effective transfer of power to the golf ball or baseball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantage, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of an athletic glove according to an embodiment of the invention showing the palm of the athletic glove and the circular felt pad.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the athletic glove depicted in FIG. 1 gripping a golf club with a normal grip position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the athletic glove depicted in FIG. 1 gripping a baseball bat with a normal grip position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the athletic glove showing the circular felt pad in an alternative location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, an athletic glove according to an embodiment of the invention is shown indicated generally by reference numeral 10. A circular pad 20 is located on the palm of the athletic glove 10 just below the index finger 30. Circular pad 20 may be between one centimeter and four centimeters in diameter, with an optimum diameter of two centimeters. An exemplary material for circular pad 20 is felt, although similar materials may also be used. Circular pad 20 reduces the effective contact area between a player's palm and the grip of a golf club or baseball bat, thereby becoming a pivot point for a player's grip on a golf club or baseball bat.

Referring now to the operation of the athletic glove 10, the athletic glove 10 is fitted over a hand (not shown). Referring to FIG. 2, a golfer (not shown) then grips a golf club 40. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this grip position could be at a number of different points along the length of the golf club 40.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a baseball player (not shown) uses the athletic glove 10 to grip a baseball bat 50. Again, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this grip position could be at a number of different points along the length of the baseball bat 50.

Referring now to FIG. 4, circular pad 20 is located on the palm of the athletic glove 10 just below the middle finger 60. This alternate location is another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 

1. An athletic glove for improving a player's grip on a golf club, the athletic glove comprising: a palm; finger parts extending from the palm, the finger parts including a part for an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, a little finger and a thumb; a circular pad attached to the palm just below the part for the index finger, the circular pad being between one and four centimeters in diameter with an optimum diameter of two centimeters, and being made of a material such as felt.
 2. The athletic glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the athletic glove is for improving a player's grip on a baseball bat.
 3. The athletic glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circular pad is attached to the palm just below the middle finger. 